218 



FUR FACTS 



has a chance to get away, she may try to outrun the bull. If she 

 miscalculates the distance, he seizes her by the back of the neck and 

 restores her, sometimes in a torn and bleeding condition, to the family 

 circle. As a rule, however, the cow avoids this seizing by turning 

 and facing the bull biting h|m on the breast and neck. The bull by 

 steadily pushing her before him, forces her back into the fold and 

 does not seem to mind her bites. 



There is constant noise going on all the time at the rookery. 

 The bulls are giving vent at intervals to their savage roars of 

 defiance. In their more subdued efforts to maintain discipline 

 in the harem they are constantly whistling, chuckling and scolding 



BULL SEAL AND HAREM 



in various notes. Mingled with all this is the shrill bleat of 

 the females and the call of the pups. When it is considered that 

 thousands of these animals are calling and answering all the time, 

 some idea of the uproar and confusion incident to their life is possible. 

 Nor is the din and noise peculiar to the day, but is heard at all hours 

 of the night; in fact, if anything, there is more noise at night. In 

 the early season the animals sleep much of the time, but there are 

 always large numbers coming and going, even when there are a con- 

 siderable portion of them comfortably asleep. Every animal in one 

 harem may be sound asleep, including the old bull, while in the harem 

 next to it, everything is confusion and every animal will be up and 

 stirring and most of them calling. They assume every conceivable 

 position while asleep. One animal will be stretched out full length on 

 its back, another on its side; one might have the hind flippers under 

 the body, and another may have them reversed. They seem to enjoy 

 the rocks, and do not care for a smooth even bed. Some go to slteep 



